IRAN DEFENDED

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00149R000100750007-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 20, 1999
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: February 21, 1965
• Content Type: NSPR

Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-Rb
CPYRGHT
FOIAb3b
S:.PA'JL, MINN.
pIO.IEER PRESS
11. 99,249
S.201,347
CPYRGHT
With all this 'happening in Iran, i11r.
Chapin talks of the "suppression of civil
rights" and strongly advocates "vio-
Iknce" as being "the only alternative"
to save the situation.
CPYRGHT
Fr-c211965
0
U.D Defended
Sir: It is indeed a pity that people
whose knowledge of Iran is at best su-
:pcrticial should venture to interpret the
political and social problems of our
,country. One such interpretation was
contained in a letter by N. Roger C 1amain
of- River Falls, Wisconsin - Pioneer
l Press, January 27, 1965.
Mr. Chapin's assertions prove beyond
a shadow of a doubt that be is quite';
ignorant of the great changes'which are
takhig shape in Iran, and the picture
:he has in his mind is a distorted one.
Contrary to his assertions the assassi-
nation of Premier Mansour was the act
of a mentally disturbed individual in-
flueno4_gd by a fanatical group, but cer-
t.aiulynot a sign of general discontent
in the country. Such meaningless and
fruitless acts have been committed even
in highly advanced countries and among
peoples who take pride in their demo; ?:
eratic way of life.
Furthermore there . are several mac-
Luracies in Mr. Chapin 's letter regar ing
t s t Ed!
the C I. A. role in the events of 1953,
the nationalization of the Iranian oil in:.'
dustrk and the effectiveness of the land
reform program. Facts are that the oil
industry was nationalized by the parlia-
nient before Dr. Mossadegh was ap-.
pointed. prime minister,. that land re-
form is a reality with almost two mil-
lion serfs of 'esterday being small land-
owners of today, and that Mohammad'T
Reza Shah Pahlavi was not made Sha-
hanshah of Iran with the help of the
C. 1. A. -
Today reforms that are being carried
out in Iran will revolutionize the coun-
social, economic, and political
try's
structures. While Mr. Chapin gives, him-
self the benefit of the doubt millions
are becoming landowners, 400,000 illiter-
ate farmers have found the light of
knowledge in the last two years, the
newly established Health Corps is scat.
tered?far and wide to bring blessings of
modern medicine to 'the rural areas and
the women of Iran are increasingly ac-
in, politics,. social work, and indus-
tive
try. j
A. M. SI-IAPURIAN,
Press Counselor
Washigton, 'D. ' C,
Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP75-00149R000100750007-5